Apparatus for feeding articles to wrapping-tables or wrapping-machines.



P. VARGA. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES T0 WRAPPING TABLES GR WRAPPING MACHINES-- APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13.1 16.

Patented Mar. 27, U17.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESS INVENTOR P. VARGA.

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES T0 WRAPPING TABLES 0R WRAPPING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, I9I6.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- P. VARGA. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING ARTICLES T0 WRAPPING TABLES OR'WRAPPI'NG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-13,19l6- r Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WITNESS A m/vmw/e PAUL VARGA, on NEW Yonmrtm APPARATUSFORFEEDING ARTICLES WRAPPING-TABLES OR WRAPPING-MACHINES Application filed January To all whom may concern."

Be it known that 1, Paul, Vanda, a subq -.ject of the King of Hungary, and a resident; of the city of 'NewiYork, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements j in Apparatus for Feeding-Articles to Wrap ping- Tables or Wrapping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding articles, such as candy,.to

' device of this type which is adapted to hanwrapping tables or wrapping machines. The invention relates more particularly'to a dle disk-shaped or ring-shaped articles.

The main object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction, eflicient in operation, and which can be manufactured on a commercial scale, or in other words one which is not so difficult to produce as to be beyond the reasonable cost of such'a contrivance.

' Another object of the invention-is to so construct the feeding mechanism that it acts at the same time as a sorting device, that is to say as an apparatus which sifts and removes from the mass the broken articles,

chips and pulverized matter. U

A further object of the invention istp so devise the feeding apparatus that it constitutes at the same time a counting device With these and other objects in View,

which delivers the articles in stacks or columns of predetermined numbers to 'the wrapping-tables or wrapping-machines, as the case may be.

which will .more fully appear. as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying liti drawings, it being understood that many changes may be made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

One of'the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inf-which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through a feeding apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view' thereof,

5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 277', 19]]. t. 13,19 e. QeriaiNo. 71,864., a l

part of its cover being removed to more clearly show'the-interior construction; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of F ig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 I of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 i s 'a vertical. longitudinal section taken through a portion of the machine on a larger scale; Fig.9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a.

Referring now more particularly to Figs.

1 .to 12, inclusive, the numeral 20 indicates the base plate of the apparatus, mounted upon legs .21, the latter being attached in any suitablemanner to a support 22. The base plate 20 is inclined, and carries at its upper of articles indiscriminately. The apparatus herein illustrated is described as used" for feeding ring-shaped candy to Wrapping- "tables or'wrapping-machines, but it is to be understood that the machine can just as Well be used for "feeding disk-shaped articles,

such as candy, coins, etc., to Wrapping-apparatuses. The work, or in other words the candy, is denoted in the drawings by the end ahopper 23, into which is placed a mass numeral 24, and is ring-shaped, as clearly appears. fromv Fig. 1 of the drawings. The

front wall 25 of the hopper is made in the form of agate, that is slidably disposed betweenguides 26 on the side Walls of the hopper, pins 27," extending through apertures 28 in the guides and through aperture s 29 in the front wall 25, serving to hold the said front wall in fixed relation to the of .the outlet of said hopper. This outlet is elongated and extends throughout the width of the hopper. In front, of the hopper is provided in the base plate 20 an opening 30, that is covered by a fo-raminated plate 31, theforamina of which are considerably smaller than the candy pieces 24. Theplate 31 is reciprocated transversely of the base plate by a mechanism hereinafter to be described, and serves mainly as a sifting device bottom of the hopper, and to vary the height that separates pulverized matter and broken 60 are formed each by a wire piece 56, the ends parts'from the mass traveling over the same.

A shaft 32 is rotatably mounted in exten sions 33 upon the. sides of the hopper, said shaft being disposedtransversely of the base plate, and provided with a fixed pulley 34 and a loose pulley 35, which receive motion, for instance by the intermediary of a belt from any suitable source of power. To this coacts with an anti-friction roller 38 upon a lever 39, the latter being fulcrumed at 40 to 'a downwardly extending bracket 41 upon the base plate 20. The lever is provided intermediate its ends with a longitudinal slot 42, in which is seated .a pin 43, that is carried by a lug 44, the latter being formed upon a frame 45, which is slidable transversely in es 46 upon the base plate 20 of the apparatus. The foraminated sheet 31 is fixedly attached to the frame 45. A spring 47, fastened to the lever 39 and to the frame of the apparatus, serves to keep the anti-friction roller continuously in c6ntact with the cam 37. As

the brush shaft and the cam 37 are rotated, the lever is oscillated about its fulcrum 40,

thereby reciprocating the foraminated plate In parallel relation to the foraminated plate 31 and at a distance above the same, whichis slightly'greater than the thickness of a candy piece, is-fixedly attached to the base plate 20 a foraminated sheet 48, forming with the plate 31 and. sides 49 upon the base plate a passage 50 for the candy pieces. Withthis passage'communicate chutes 51, in the case illustrated twelve. These chutes are each of a cross section which accommodates a candy piece, their mouths 52 being so disposed that they receive the candy pieces sliding upon one of their respective plane faces, and are each twisted 90 so that at the points indicated by the nu'm'erals 53 the candy pieces stand upright, that is to say on their cylindrical faces The chutes 51 are formed in the base plate 20 and a cover plate 54, that is attached to the said base plate. From the points 53 the candy pieces roll in the chutes toward the discharge openings 55 thereof. In these sections of the chutes, the bottoms of which are attached to transverse bars 57. The sides 58 of thechutes throughout the lengthsof the wire pieces 56 do not extend 'down to the said wire pieces, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, whereby broken candy pieces, as they slide along the wire pieces 56, are adapted to fall ofi the apparatus, to be collected in a receptacle (not shown in the drawings). The chutes 51 converge toward the longitudinal center line of the apparatus, the sides 58 thereof decreasing in width and terminating in sharp edges, as shown at 59.

A transporting mechanism 60 receives the candy pieces from the chutes 51. This transporting mechanism may be made in the form of a belt conveyer 61, the apron of which is provided with transverse recesses 62, eaclf'of which is adapted to receive a plurality of candy pieces. This apron is provided with sideguards 63, and runs over two rollers 64, to one of which is keyed a pulley 6,5. The rollers are jour naled' in bearings 66, that are mounted upon the support 22. It is preferable to actuate the transporting mechanism intermittently. The means for effecting such movement has not been shown as it does not form part of the invention. f

The operation of this device is. as follows: Before starting the operation of the apparatus, the outlet of the hopper is adjusted. to prevent a too quick passing of the candy pieces to the brush 36, as such feeding would result in a clogging of the outlet. The brush is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in' Fig. 1 of the drawings and being, as above described, dis- .posed at a distance from the foraminated plate 31, which is slightly greater than the thickness of an individual candy piece, it prevents candy pieces from passing one on top of another into the passage 50. As the bottom of. this passage is reciprocated or vibrated, it causes the candy ieces to slide on one of their respective p ane faces toward the chutes 51, sifting out at the same time pulverized matter and broken pieces. The candy pieces enter then one after the other the chutes 51, and are therein turned 90 so that they move rolling beyond the points 53. Beyond these points again broken pieces are sorted out, while salable pieces enter the recesses 62 in the belt of the conveying apparatus. Into each of the recesses 12 candy pieces enter, there being twelve chutes 51 provided, as above described. These pieces form in each recess a horizontal-column, that is carried to the wrapping machine, to be wrapped automatically, into a cylindrical package or to a Wrappmgtable where each column is removed individually by the operator and wrapped up.

In the modification shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings the construction of the portions of the chutes 51 beyond the points 53 difiers somewhat from the one described. The bottoms .70 of these portions of the chutes are made integral with the sides thereof. One side, denoted by the numeral 71, of each of these chutes is, however recessed, as shown at 72, whereby broken pieces tilt over and drop out of the chutes.

The modification shown in Fig.4 14 differs 'from theone described inconnection with Fig. 7 in that, instead ofthe wire pieces 56, longitudinal rails 73 are used as bottoms of the chutes. What I claim is 1. An apparatus of' the character described, comprising a hopper adapted to' receive disk-shaped articles and having an elongated outlet communicating with a passage throughout its width, said passage being of a height that is substantially that of the thickness ofan individual article to be fed, and a plurality of chutes leading from away, whereby broken'articles are tilted by gravity and fall ofl' said chutes.

2. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a hopper adapted to receive disk shaped articles and having an elongated outletcommunicating with a passage "throughout its ,width, said passage being of a height that is substantially that of the thickness of an article to be fed, a plurality of'chutes leading from said passage, each chute being of a cross section corresponding substantially to that of a diskshaped article, said chutes being twisted and their mouths being adapted to receive the articles resting on their plane surfaces and the discharge openings thereof being disposed so as to release the articles standing upon their cylindrical surfaces, the bottom of said passagebeing constituted by a f0- raminated plate, andv means for reciprocat ing said plate.

3. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising a hopper adapted to receive disk-shaped articles and having an elongated outlet communicating with a pas sage throughout its width, said passage be-" ing of a height that is substantially that of the thickness of anindividual article to be fed, a plurality of chutes leading from said passage, each chute being of a cross sectioncorresponding substantially to that of a disk-shaped article, said chutes being twisted and their mouths being adapted to receive the articles resting on their plane surfaces and the discharge openings thereof beingdisposed so as to release the articles standing upon their cylindrical surfaces, the bot .foraminated plate, means for reciprocating said plate, and a rotary" brush disposed above saidplateat a distance that is approximately of the thickness of an article, said brush being located near'the outlet of said hopper. 4. An apparatus 'of the character de'- scribed, comprising a hopper adapted to re- I v ceive disk-shaped articles and having an elongated outlet communicating with a passage throughout its width, said passage being'of a height that is substantially that of' the thickness of an individual article to be fed", a plurality of chutes leading from said passage, each chute being of a cross section corresponding substantially to that of a disk-shaped article, said chutes being twisted and their mouths being adapted to receive the articles resting on their plane surfaces and the discharge openings thereof being disposed so asto release the articles standing upon their cylindrical surfaces, and an endless conveyer having transverse recesses adapted to receive the articles from said chutes.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a hopper adapted to j receive disk-shaped articles and having an elongated outlet communicating with a pas-- sage throughout its width, said passage bethe thickness of an individual article to be fed, a plurality of chutes leading from" said passage, each chute being of a cross section corresponding substantially to that of a disk-shaped article, said chutes being twist- 951 ing of a height that is substantially thatof ed and their mouths being adaptedto re- Y 7 ceive the articles restingon their plane surfaces and the discharge openings. thereofbeing disposed so as to release the articles standing upon their cylindrical surfaces, the sides of said chutes at their discharge ends being wedge-shaped, whereby the ar-;

ticles issue from said chutes in the form of a horizontal column, and an endless con- 3 veyer having transverse recesses adapted to receive the articles from said chutes.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a hopper adapted to receive disk-shaped articles and having an elongated outlet communicating with a pas sage throughout its width, said passage being of a height that is substantially that of the thickness of an individual article to be fed, and a plurality of chutes leading from i said'passage, each chute being of a cross section corresponding substantially to that of a disk-shaped article, said chutes being t-wisted and their mouths being adapted to receive the articles resting on their plane surfaces and the discharge openings thereof being disposed so as to release the articles standin upon their {cylindrical surfaces, parts 0 the sides of said chutes near their discharge ends being cut away, whereby broken articles are tilted by gravity andfall off said chutes.

7. An "apparatus of the character described, comprising a hopper adapted'to re-, 5 ceive disk-shaped articles and having an elongated outlet communicating with a pasthe thickness of an individual article to be 1o fed, and a plurality of chutes leading from said passage, each chute being provided 'wlth a cover andsofi.axgcross-sectlon correshaped article, said chutes being twisted and their mouths being adapted to receive the articles resting on their plane surfaces and the discharge openings thereof being disposed so as to release the articles standing upon their cylindrical surfaces.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York this 29th day of Dec., A. D. 1915.

PAUL VARGA. 

